PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenshin Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ji Kwon Tae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maeda
vs
Kwon Tae

169 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

171 cm
21
161 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshin Maeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ji Kwon Tae!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tae throws a sloppy head kick and Maeda moves out of range easily.
Maeda throws a sloppy head kick
and Tae finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Tae throws a head kick that misses
and Maeda counters with a good low kick that Tae was not able to check.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Maeda misses with a two punch combination.
Tae blocks the body kick.
Tae chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maeda can pounce on him.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tae sprawls well. Tae wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maeda gets slowly back to his feet.
Tae falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maeda counters with a slapping leg kick.
Maeda moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tae feints and as Maeda raises his hands in defense, Tae changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maeda working a defensive guard but Tae manages to pass into side control anyway.
Maeda tries to escape but Tae is in control.
Maeda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tae happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tae stands up and beckons Maeda to his feet.
Tae throws a right and a left that Maeda avoids nicely.
Tae throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Maeda counters with a nice kick to the body.
Tae tries to clinch there but Maeda circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tae shoots in for a takedown but Maeda shows good takedown defense.
Maeda looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maeda needs to keep his hands up - Tae had a free shot at his head there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maeda.
Tae scores with a three punch combo!
Tae fails with a takedown attempt.
Ji Kwon Tae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tae moves in looking to clinch but Maeda pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a head kick that misses
and Tae counters with a series of strikes. Maeda will be more careful next time no doubt.

Tae looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Maeda is breathing heavily.
Maeda wants to stand but Tae is controlling the position.
Tae looking to pass the guard.
Tae is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ji Kwon Tae dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maeda gets caught flat footed, as Tae shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tae advances to half guard.

Tae stands up out of the half guard.

Tae closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Maeda did well to prevent Tae getting side control.
Tae controlling the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tae uses his free foot to push down on Maeda's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Maeda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tae controlling the position easily from mount.
Maeda has given up his back here. Will Tae look for the submission or keep pounding away?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
What can Maeda do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tae looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Tae.

Tae tightening his grip on Maeda, looking for the choke.
Tae is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tae's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ji Kwon Tae showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tae closes the distance and clinches up with Maeda, looking for a takedown. Tae pushes Maeda against the cage but Maeda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maeda stuffs the takedown attempt from Tae. Tae gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Maeda.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tae!
A lazy body kick from Tae
and Maeda counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tae's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tae throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Maeda counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tae looks to land a combination but Maeda avoids it well.
Tae will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tae tries a head kick but it misses.
Tae has a takedown stuffed.
Kenshin Maeda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ji Kwon Tae.

Tae looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tae passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Tae stalls from top position.

Tae stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tae.
Tae fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Tae misses.
Tae fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maeda avoids it really well and circles away.
Maeda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tae misses with a combination
and Maeda counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tae throws a nice head kick!
Tae throws a head kick that misses.
Tae throws a right hand that Maeda ducks under and follows up with a left that Maeda also avoids with ease.
Tae shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kenshin Maeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ji Kwon Tae is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tae tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ji Kwon Tae comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tae has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ji Kwon Tae!